By Monsurudeen Olowoopejo
In what could mark a watershed in Nigeria’s security architecture, the Senate has commenced moves to establish State Police as part of urgent measures to tackle the escalating wave of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes that have continued to threaten lives, livelihoods, and economic activities across the country.
The upper legislative chamber is expected to prioritise the amendment of the 1999 Constitution this week to create the legal framework for state-controlled police forces, a proposal that has gained widespread support among key stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and the National Assembly.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed on Monday that the National Assembly had resolved to isolate the State Police proposal from the broader constitutional amendment process to accelerate its passage and implementation.
According to him, growing insecurity across the federation has made the creation of State Police a national necessity that can no longer be delayed.
“Our position is very clear on State Police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of State Police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish State Police than now,” Bamidele said in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.
He noted that consultations involving critical stakeholders had reached an advanced stage and that lawmakers were determined to ensure the constitutional amendment receives speedy consideration.
“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for State Police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay,” he added.
The Senate Leader revealed that extensive meetings had been held among the National Assembly’s constitutional review committees, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, security agencies, and other stakeholders to harmonise positions on the proposed reform.
He specifically identified the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Barau Jibrin, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review, Benjamin Kalu, as key figures driving the legislative process.
Bamidele further disclosed that once passed by the National Assembly, the bill would be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it must secure approval from at least two-thirds of the legislatures before it can be forwarded to the President for assent.
“The bill can as well be on its way to the 36 State Houses of Assembly as soon as possible because we will need two-thirds of the state assemblies to approve it before the President can assent to it,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the proposal would receive overwhelming support, noting that President Tinubu, governors, and state lawmakers were largely in agreement on the need for decentralised policing.
“The President is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent. The majority of our governors are in support of this bill, and the state assemblies are also waiting for it,” Bamidele stated.
The move represents a significant departure from the current constitutional arrangement under Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which establishes a single national police force known as the Nigeria Police Force.
For years, advocates of State Police have argued that the centralised policing structure has become overstretched and inadequate in addressing the diverse security challenges confronting different parts of the country.
The renewed push comes amid increasing concerns over persistent attacks by bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups, particularly in rural communities where security response times are often slow.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, recently disclosed that President Tinubu would soon receive a comprehensive report on the proposed creation of State Police as consultations on the constitutional and operational framework for its establishment near completion.